Subseries I.3 John M. Schiff records, 1898-1977

John M. Schiff (1904-1987), son of Mortimer L. and Adele Neustadt Schiff, was an investment banker and philanthropist. He began his banking career in 1927 and spent most of his career at Kuhn, Loeb & Company, the firm co-founded by his grandfather Jacob’s father-in-law, Solomon Loeb. He was the last senior partner of the firm when it merged with Lehman Brothers in 1977. Schiff was named honorary chairman of the merged firm, Lehman Brothers, Kuhn, Loeb.

Schiff was an avid horseman who bred thoroughbreds in Kentucky and Florida and owned a racing stable at Belmont Park. He served in the Navy during World War II. He also served as president of the Boy Scouts of America, an organization he supported throughout his life. He was married twice and had two children with his first wife, Edith Brevoort Baker Schiff.

This subseries contains John M. Schiff’s personal and professional correspondence, managed for him by staff at Kuhn, Loeb & Company The records contain extensive documentation of Schiff’s personal investments and ventures, his foundation and other charitable efforts, and his real estate holdings in New York City and Oyster Bay, Long Island. Included are records of Schiff’s activity as a board member and officer of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as his role as member of numerous other corporate and charitable boards, including that of the New York Public Library.

The Schiff Foundation records contain correspondence from individuals and organizations requesting assistance, financial statements, and specific grant and contribution information.

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically, as are trust documents for members of the Schiff family. Records of The Schiff Foundation are arranged alphabetically by year.